here’s another scenario. IU rights the ship this season, gets into the tourney, maybe even wins a game. Next year we show modest improvement and go to the sweet 16.
People are shaking their heads thinking this idea is nuts, but we have the talent to do this, it’s just that expectations keep getting lowered. Last season we had those 12/13 games where the team quit, so people are just waiting for that to happen again. However, the B10 is an odd conference. The league may see its best team as a 3 seed, and a team like MSU is really having a big down year. Many teams that were looking good earlier (Michigan, OSU, Minnesota) are collapsing a little. The scenario above seems unlikely not because it couldn’t happen if we suddenly played sharply and with a sense of urgency, but because we are lowering our expectations like we are witnessing a total collapse.
If somehow IU gets into the tourney this year, and next year, with a sweet 16, they’ll be printing the “We’re back, again” tee shirts and giving Miller a lifetime extension. That’s how low expectations are right now.
then we get to:
“Archie losses most of the key players and in year 5 goes 6-14 in conference.”
I don't know, something has been off his whole time here and it really doesn't make much sense.
As Gavin said on Crimson Cast, his Dayton teams fought like hell, had players that played their roles and scrapped with a chip on their shoulder.
His teams at IU have folded. They've constantly not showed up for big games and really struggle with their effort for 40 minutes.
Before the season there was a post that said they talked to Ed Schilling and Ed said the players tended to tune him out.
He's obviously not the kind of tactical coach that can be successful from his 'genius' but he knows the nuance of the game enough that it shouldn't be a disadvantage.
When I watch us play, particularly offense, it has always seemed like we're playing in mud.
Purdue had a grace and rhythm to them that was striking to watch.
It was embarrassing watching our defenders get bogged down by all the screens they had to fight through. That used to be our calling card.
And make no mistake, Purdue is not super talented this year. If we would flip flop rosters I would bet Painter would have our team easily in the top 20 maybe top 15 while we'd be battling it out with Nebraska.
There are no excuses to miss the tourney this year. I know our guard play has sucked but a good coach would be able to manage it and put them in a position to succeed, like Painter has.
Hell Painter's guards are a 6'6" guy who can't shoot (Eastern) who was ranked around Smith, a 150 shooting guard (Hunter), a low 3 star gym rat who couldn't get off the bench last year (Sasha), a 3 star freshman (Thompson) and a grad transfer (Proctor).